Golden State Valkyries move one win from WNBA title after 64-55 Game 5 victory
Golden State leads Atlanta 3-2 in the WNBA Finals. Its first chance to clinch comes Thursday afternoon in a Game 6 shaped by an arena scheduling conflict.
The Golden State Valkyries beat the Atlanta Dream 64-55 in San Francisco on Monday, October 26, taking a 3-2 lead in the WNBA Finals and moving one victory from their first championship. Their next chance to clinch comes Thursday afternoon in Atlanta, where an arena scheduling conflict has pushed Game 6 into a weekday daytime slot.
The best-of-seven series was tied 2-2 before Game 5. Golden State now has two chances to win the title, while Atlanta must win both remaining games. The Valkyries are in their second season as a franchise.
How Golden State took control in Game 5
USA TODAY described Monday's game as physical and low scoring. Both teams finished the first half with 25 points or fewer, which the outlet reported was a first in WNBA history. Atlanta's final total of 55 tied its lowest score since Karl Smesko became coach last season.
At halftime, Valkyries guard Veronica Burton pointed to Atlanta's success on loose balls and rebounds. ‘We got to hit bodies. We got to want it more,’ she said, according to USA TODAY. ‘We got to clean that up.’ Golden State finished nine points ahead.
Why Game 6 starts at 12:30 p.m. in Atlanta
Game 6 is scheduled for Thursday, October 29, at 12:30 p.m. ET at State Farm Arena, a 9:30 a.m. start for Golden State fans in California. NBC News reported that the game had originally been slated for Thursday night, with its venue and exact tipoff time undetermined. The Atlanta Hawks also had a home game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at State Farm Arena that evening.
The earlier Finals tipoff lets the Dream use State Farm Arena before the Hawks play at 8 p.m. ET. That gives Atlanta access to a venue seating about 17,000, compared with the roughly 3,500 seats at Gateway Center Arena, where the Dream played most of their 2026 season. Deadline reported that the Dream are due to make State Farm Arena their regular home next season.
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert thanked the teams, the NBA, State Farm Arena and USA Network for their flexibility in a statement quoted by NBC News. Deadline reported that the league planned to work with its broadcast partners to promote the changed time. USA Network is scheduled to televise Game 6, with a Peacock simulcast; if Atlanta forces Game 7, it is set for Saturday, October 31, at 8 p.m. ET.
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Sources and context
- Golden State Valkyries on brink of first championship in pound-for-pound seriesUSA TODAY Sports, republished by Yahoo Sports
- Valkyries could clinch WNBA title before clock strikes noon at home because an NBA game took priorityNBC News
- WNBA Moves Game 6 Of Final Series To Mid-Day Thursday Timeslot Due To Arena ShuffleDeadline
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.